Easy Ramadan recipes that can be prepared quickly for Iftaar

What to cook for Iftaar may seem like the most daunting thing as after fasting for the entire day, it takes a lot of effort to make an elaborate meal. Well, if you too find it very confusing to decide 'what to cook' then we have some quick recipes to make your Iftaar party even more interesting!

It's that time of the year, when devotees leave no stone unturned to seek blessings and observe month long fasts to express their gratitude to the the almighty.

Muslims around the world observe the month of Ramadan, which is the most sacred month of the year in Islamic culture. During this month, Muslims practice fasting and may not eat or drink anything including water till susnset. It is the time for spiritual reflection and spending time with friends and family. It is common to have 'suhoor'; a meal just before dawn, and 'iftar', a meal had directly after sunset. People usually go to the mosque to pray but due to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, gatherings are not possible. While at home, prepare for Ramadan with delicious suhoor recipes and iftar dishes that everyone will enjoy:

This is a healthy milkshake recipe you can make while cooking some other dishes. First, soak 7 to 8 deseeded dates, 2 to 3 dry figs, 1/4 cup walnuts and 1/4 cup almonds in separate bowls filled with hot water for half-hour. After 30 minutes, drain the water from the dry fruits and peel off the skin of almonds. Then transfer the dry fruits into a blender and add 1 tbsp honey in it along with a half cup of chilled milk. Blend all the ingredients. You will get a thick paste so add 2 cups of chilled milk and blend again. Put it in a serving glass.

The cheesy corn cheese balls are a perfect appetizer recipe. In a bowl, add 1 boiled and peeled potato, 2 tbsp boiled sweet corn kernels, 2 tbsp chopped capsicum, a few coriander leaves, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 tbsp chilli flakes, 1/2 tsp basil, 1/2 tbsp black pepper powder and salt as required. Mix the ingredients well to make a mixture. Apply oil on hands and make balls out of the mixture. In a bowl, add 2 tbsp maida and a little water to make a thin paste. Dip the balls in the paste and coat them properly with bread crumbs. Do the same with all the balls and refrigerate them for 30 minutes. Heat oil in a kadhai and fry the balls until they are crispy and golden brown. Transfer them into a plate and serve with ketchup.

Also called Salata, Afghan salad is a healthy and an easy-to-make recipe for Ramadan. Chop 3 tomatoes, 1 baby cucumber and 1 onion, and add them in a bowl. Pour 3 tbsp lemon juice over the vegetables and add salt according to your taste. Toss the salad and refrigerate for an hour. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve as a delicious side dish.

It is another appetiser recipe for suhoor and iftar. In a mortar and pestle, crush 2 tsp dried pomegranate seeds and 2 tsp cumin seeds and transfer them in a medium-sized bowl. Add 1 cup chickpea flour, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp baking soda and salt to taste. Pour in 2 tbsp full-fat yoghurt, 1 cup water along with 1/3 cup of freshly chopped cilantro and combine all the ingredients to make a paste. Let the mixture rest for 15 minutes. Then, heat oil in a kadhai. Mix sliced jalapenos and onions in the batter. Dip slices of potato, eggplant and whole jalapenos into the batter. Fry the dipped veggies in the hot oil until golden brown. Transfer the pakoras in a plate lined with a paper towel to soak excess oil. Sprinkle salt over the pakoras and serve with mint chutney, tamarind sauce or ketchup.

Make this delicious melt-in-mouth recipe and enjoy with your loved ones. Start with roasting 1/2 cup gram flour until it turns fragrant. Add 400g minced meat to a bowl along with the gram flour, 1/2 cup bread crumbs (optional), 1/2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp coriander powder, and salt. Next, add 1/2 cup finely chopped mint leaves, coriander leaves, 1 1/2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste, and 2 chopped green chillies. Pour 2 tbsp lemon juice and mix everything well to make a dough-like mixture. Cover the bowl and set it aside for 30 minutes or refrigerate it overnight. Using a tablespoon, scoop out the mixture and make balls. Flatten them to make kebabs and set them aside. Deep fry the kebabs in hot oil until golden brown. Transfer them on a plate lined with a paper towel. You can also grill the kebabs at 240 C. Serve them with mint chutney and ketchup.

For a delicious and healthy sweet dish, try this recipe of fruit custard. Heat 2 cups of almond milk in a saucepan. Add 2 to 3 tbsps sugar and stir until it dissolves. Add 2 tbsps of custard powder in a cup and pour 4 tbsps of milk in it. Stir well and make sure there are no lumps. Add the custard mixture in little amounts to the hot milk and stir well and cook until the custard becomes thick, keep stirring. Remove from stove, cool it down at room temperature and chill in the refrigerator. Chop fruits like mango, apple, banana and pomegranate. Pour the custard over the fruits and serve.